Omar Artan's Historic World Cup Opportunity Cut Short by US Entry Denial
Omar Artan, poised to be the first Somali referee at the World Cup, has faced a significant setback as he was denied entry to the United States.
Omar Artan was set to make history as the first Somali referee at the upcoming World Cup. However, he has encountered a major obstacle with his entry to the United States being denied.
This denial means that Artan will not be able to officiate at the tournament, a disappointment for both him and those who support his groundbreaking role.
Despite this setback, FIFA has confirmed that Artan will still receive his full tournament fee, ensuring that he is compensated for his selection.
Updates
Update at 01:53 UTC on 2026-06-09
Reuters World reported Somali soccer referee denied US entry, will miss World Cup debut Reuters.
Sources: Reuters World
Update at 14:43 UTC on 2026-06-09
France 24 reported Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement.
Sources: France 24
Update at 09:00 UTC on 2026-06-14
BBC Sport reported Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup, will still receive his tournament fee from Fifa in full.
Sources: BBC Sport